Latest Events in Gangwon State(September Updated)

The heartwarming stories of the Renji Flower Village whisper happy whispers. There's a wide variety of activities waiting for you at "Shelang Hagi," a vast wildflower garden; "Communication Hagi," where you can chat along the riverside promenade; "Healing Hagi," where you can temporarily escape from your busy daily life amidst the lush pine forest; and a health market where you can buy a variety of agricultural products and foods.

The Hwacheon Mountain Snow Festival, located in Hwacheon City, Gangwon Province, is a unique winter event, named one of CNN's "Seven Wonders of Winter" in 2011. Held annually in January, the festival transforms the crystal-clear Hwacheon Stream into a frozen wonderland. Visitors can experience ice fishing and even catch the stream's prized "Queen of the Valley" fish by hand. Freshly caught fish can be sliced ​​and eaten raw or grilled on-site. In addition to fishing, the festival offers a variety of winter entertainment, including ice sledding, tobogganing, and snowmobiling, attracting over one million visitors each year.

This festival pays tribute to the Korean writer Lee Hyo-seok and his legacy. His famous novel, When the Buckwheat Flowers Bloom, is set in Bongpyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, which is why the festival is held there every year. Amateurs and aspiring writers compete in essay and poetry competitions, while exhibitions offer a deeper understanding of the writer and his work. There are also performances and events for visitors. The area is also famous for its buckwheat, which is reflected in the various foods and dishes made from the grain sold at the festival.

Arirang is a globally renowned Korean folk song. Its roots span many regions, resulting in numerous versions across Korea. "Jeongseon Arirang," the source of all Arirang, was recognized in 2012 with its inclusion on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List. The Jeongseon Arirang Festival aims to preserve and promote this folk song. The festival begins with the Seven Sages' Rite, commemorating the patriotic loyalty of the Seven Sages. The Seven Sages were seven loyal ministers from the late Goryeo Dynasty who figure in the origin story of "Jeongseon Arirang." The festival also includes prayers for a successful celebration and for the well-being of the Korean people. The festival includes 83 events, including the Arirang Parade and the National Arirang Singing Contest.

Gangwon City is not only famous for its beautiful coastal scenery, but also for its delicious coffee. Strolling along the beach lined with cafes throughout Gangwon, visitors can enjoy the rich aroma of coffee that rivals the sea breeze. Renowned coffee manufacturers participate in the Gangwon Coffee Festival and host tasting events. At the opening ceremony, 100 baristas will simultaneously perform a "100 People, 100 Flavors" demonstration, brewing hand-drip coffee by hand. Visitors can sample 100 different coffee flavors during this special event. Various competitions are also held during the festival to select the best baristas in categories such as latte art, hand-drip, and roasting. Visitors can also visit participating Gangwon cafes and receive prizes by collecting stamps.

The Wonju Dumpling Festival is the most distinctive local food and culture festival in Wonju, Gangwon Province, South Korea. It will be held from October 23rd to 25th, 2026, at the Jungang-dong Traditional Market, Culture Street, and Culture Road, a three-day festival showcasing dumpling food and culture. With the slogan "Mandu means Wonju, Wonju means Mandu" and the theme "Wonju Mandu Journey of Making, Eating, and Enjoying," the festival brings together a diverse range of traditional, international, and vegetarian dumpling experiences. It integrates an AI video promotion competition, themed exhibitions, live broadcasts, food stalls, and other activities. Since its inception in 2023, it has grown into a well-known food festival in South Korea, attracting 500,000 visitors.

The Pyeongchang Trout Festival is held every winter. In addition to various experience activities such as ice fishing, lure fishing, snow experience, ice experience, folk experience, etc., there are also winter folk games such as sleds and spinning tops, four-wheel ATV off-road vehicles, snow boating, sleigh trains and other activities. Trout caught by ice fishing or lure fishing can be commissioned to nearby restaurants for cooking and tasting on the spot. Pyeongchang has clear and cold water and is the first place in Korea to farm trout. Trout is nutritious and has a fresh taste and can be eaten as sashimi.

The Wonju Yongsugu Autumn Flower Festival is the only flower festival in the country hosted by villagers, who carry out sowing, transplanting, weeding, and thinning in villages at the ri (Segok-ri) level. After the festival, people start planting and caring for autumn flowers and preparing through double-cropping.